The AFU and Urban Legend Archive
Science
 radio receiving fillings




From: wb8foz@netcom.com (David Lesher)
Subject: supporting evidence...
Date: Wed, 8 Feb 1995 11:05:24 -0500 (EST)

The FAQ saith:
T. Some combinations of metal tooth fillings can receive radio signals.

[n.b -- "Field Day" is an event where ham radio operators got out to a park or the country, set up portable stations that are self-contained, and strive for the greatest number of contacts. While its original function was an exercise for diasters such as earthquakes, it really is just a chance to play Boy Scout again.]

From: dgbart@primenet.com (David Bartholomew)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Subject: Re: Dental Fillings and Radio Frequency Signals
Date: 4 Feb 1995 13:24:53 GMT
Organization: Primenet
Message-ID: <3gvv75$9at@news.primenet.com>

[.......]
It's real. I attended a Field Day setup a few years ago, staged by the Westside Amateur Radio Club in Los Angeles. They had one of their stations inside a trailer, and the radio had an automatic antenna tuner. Well, SOMEBODY didn't ground the thing right. I was inside the shack about 5' from the radio when the op said, "Well, 15 meters is dead; let's tune it up on 20." He changed bands and hit the deadly little "Automatic Tune" button. The radio began buzzing as the tuner went to work. Also, I let out a scream as one of my teeth with a nice filling in it suddenly felt like a dentist was drilling in it with NO anesthetic! I RAN from that trailer uttering obscenities and the pain vanished as soon as I got clear of the thing. Needless to say I didn't hang around that particular shack much during the rest of the contest.

-Dave WB6WKB


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